Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as the long-term replacement for Luka Modric, with a €70 million move in the works.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Diario Gol, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has popped up on Real Madrid’s radar over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Merengues are ready to shell out €70 million for the Lazio midfielder, who is being viewed as the long-term successor for Luka Modric.
Milinkovic-Savic has established himself as one of the best midfielders on show in Serie A since joining Lazio from Genk in the summer of 2015. Over the last six years or so, the Serb has gone from strength to strength and is now an indispensable figure for the Biancocelesti.
The ongoing season has been a reasonably strong one for the 26-year-old, who has 6 goals and 9 assists in 31 appearances across all competitions. And, ahead of the summer transfer window, Milinkovic-Savic has emerged on the radar of one of the biggest clubs in the world – Real Madrid.
Real Madrid appear set to engage in a summer of squad rebuilding, as Zinedine Zidane looks to overhaul an ageing squad. Midfield, in particular, is a department that is in need of having a succession plan, especially with Luka Modric set to turn 36 in the early days of the 2021/22 season.
Toni Kroos is on the wrong side of 30 as well, meaning Real Madrid do need another option in addition to Federico Valverde, who is viewed as one of the long-term solutions in midfield, seeing as Isco is likely to be offloaded in the summer. To that end, Fabian Ruiz is one of the players to have been linked with Real Madrid.
The Merengues have also been touted to be closing in on the capture of Eduardo Camavinga, but now, it looks like Milinkovic-Savic could be the player who ends up replacing Modric at the club. The report claims that Florentino Perez not only views the 26-year-old as a successor for Modric but is also ready to splash the big bucks on him, having allocated €70 million for a summer move.
Milinkovic-Savic has previously revealed that it is his dream to play for Real Madrid, meaning Los Blancos could be in good stead if they make a move for him. What now remains to be seen is if the €70 million offer proves to be good enough to land the Serb or if Lazio demand a higher fee from Real Madrid.